These Budget Skincare Buys Are Just as Good as the Expensive Versions
After a feature on the affordable beauty products that I love just as much as their high-end counterparts, I had an influx of questions coming from friends and colleagues about what other beauty dupes were lurking on the shelves of the high street. Well, it turns out there are plenty.
Today, I'm going to be honing in on skincare—mainly because when it comes to my beauty routine, this is where most of my money goes. Skin is big business in the industry, and generally, I think there's a perception that spending more money on a skincare product means that it will work more effectively. Well, friends, I'm here to tell you otherwise.
While there are plenty of luxury skincare options in my regular routine, I've also found a fair amount of affordable alternatives for when you don't want to splash the cash. Who knows? You just might find a new favourite...
Keep on scrolling to shop the high-end skincare products that I love and their budget skincare dupes that are just as good.
1. If you love: Pixi Glow Tonic
The product that Jourdan Dunn swears by for actual supermodel skin, this glycolic toner has something of cult status within the industry. Sweep it onto clean skin with a cotton pad, and say hello to a brighter, more even complexion.
Try: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Another glycolic acid treatment that will remove impurities and brighten your face. At over half of the price of Pixi's, it has to be worth a try, right? This has a higher concentration, so be careful if you've got more sensitive skin.
2. If you love: Eve Lom Cleanser
This is one of my favourite balm cleansers, mainly because I feel so damn fancy whenever I use it. It's packed with cocoa butter, chamomile, eucalyptus and clove oils and manages to remove makeup, calm blemishes and cleanse the skin.
Try: Beauty Bay Butter Cup Cleansing Balm
This is a really decadent cleansing balm that belies its affordable price point. It uses oat kernel oil, chamomile, and sweet almond oil to cleanse, nourish, and melt away all traces of makeup.
3. If you love: 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask
After big nights out or on particularly bleary-eyed mornings, these are the ultimate de-puffing eye solutions. They feel incredibly cool whether you've put them in the fridge or not and do a great job of fading dark circles and brightening tired eyes in just a few minutes.
Try: E.l.f Hydrogel Under Eye Masks
Infused with purified water, soothing seaweed extract and brightening liquorice, these more affordable options also do a great job of de-puffing your under-eyes. I'd pop them in the fridge beforehand to supercharge that cooling effect.
4. If you love: By Terry Baume De Rose Lip Care
I'm lip balm obsessed, and this one is top of my current love list. It's incredibly moisturising, non-sticky and leaves lips looking plump and juicy.
Try: Glossier Rose Balm Dot Com
This cult-classic lip balm provides that same rosy tint as By Terry but at a fraction of price. Admittedly, the texture isn't the same as its pricier counterpart, but it gets the job done and is great for chapped lips. Plus, it's a bit easier to carry around with you.
5. If you love: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
I've spoken about my love of Drunk Elephant before, and this serum is one of my favourites. Yes, it is pricey, but when I use it a couple of times a week, it does an amazing job of evening out my skin tone and reducing the appearance of blemishes.
Try: The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
This actually has a higher concentration of AHAs than the pricier Drunk Elephant version, so if you want a really intense solution to battling blemishes and evening skin tone, then try this. Be warned, though: This stuff is strong, so stick to using it only a couple of times a week.
6. If you love: Dermalogica Retinol Clearing Oil
Dermalogica is a derm-approved skincare brand which understands that breakouts are inevitable, no matter what your age. They created this retinol specifically with breakout-prone mature skin in mind - retinol both helps to clear congestion and target signs of ageing skin like fine lines and wrinkles. It's become something of a beauty-insider secret thanks to the way it delivers facial-like results overnight.
Try: No. 7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate
The thing that people love most about Dermalogica's formula is that it doesn't irritate skin—something that retinol is known for. However, this brilliant retinol from No7 is seriously gentle too and is less than half the price. It's affordable anti-ageing at its finest.
7. If you love: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
One of the best-selling skincare brands in the U.S., Peter Thomas Roth provides seriously hardworking skincare solutions for every complexion need. This intensely hydrating moisturiser is ideal for days when your skin is feeling particularly parched.
Try: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream Moisturiser
This more affordable option is also oil-free and packed with hyaluronic acid for a lightweight texture that penetrates the surface of the skin for intense hydration.
8. If you love: Decléor Green Mandarin Sun-Kissed Glow Day Cream
I particularly love this product when I just want a hint of coverage on my skin. The tint gives skin a subtle glow, and it also contains vitamin C to protect skin from environmental stressors.
Try: No.7 No7 City Light Tinted Moisturiser With 5* Uva + Spf 15
This No7 version really delivers in terms of providing a hint of radiant coverage, and it contains SPF 15. It helps in protecting your skin against pollution and other skin-damaging nasties. A great option if you live in the city.
9. If you love: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex
This has to be one of the most iconic serums in the world, and in fact, it was the first serum ever formulated. At its core, it's a hyaluronic acid based serum that restores moisture to your skin overnight and diminishes fine lines and pores.
Try: Missha Time Revolution Night Repair
This Korean skincare treatment is something of an insider secret with very similar ingredients and results to the classic ANR serum. It's one of the priciest "affordable" options on my list, but it genuinely lives up to the Estée Lauder classic.
10. If you love: La Mer Crème De La Mer Moisturizing Cream
Disclaimer: I have not ever spent (and never will spend) this amount of money on face cream. However, this is a really beloved moisturiser in the beauty industry thanks to its intense moisturising properties and soothing abilities.
Try: Nivea Creme All Purpose
Undoubtedly, this budget moisturiser won't have quite as luxurious an ingredient list as the La Mer. However, this old classic really does deliver similar results. It's intensely hydrating, has a similar texture and also leaves skin plump and glowing. It's definitely not for those with congestion-prone skin, but neither is Crème de la Mer.
11. If you love: Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Water
The OG product that changed all of our nighttime routines thanks to our fave models backstage who used it. I use this to gently remove makeup and avoid face wipes.
Try: Garnier Micellar Water
You can't go wrong with this purse-friendly alternative, which works just as well on sensitive skin and still manages to get every inch of makeup off with ease. Win-win.
12. If you love: Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Antioxidant Vitamin C Serum
A favourite among beauty editors and skincare experts alike, this brightening serum has cult status for a reason. Yes, it is eye-waveringly expensive, but this gold-standard serum delivers results if you're thinking of investing.
Try: Revolution Skincare Vitamin C Serum 23% + Ferulic Acid
This budget-friendly serum from Revolution Skincare is worth a try if you're looking for a purse-friendly alternative.
13. If you love: Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm
This cleanser is one of Clinique's hero products and for good reason. The balm texture is luxurious to use and melts away makeup effortlessly.
Try: The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
Sumptuous by name, sumptuous by nature. If you love the indulgent feel of Clinique's balm as you remove make-up, this offers the same experience and is very gentle on sensitive skin too.
Next Up: 10 Affordable Makeup Brands That Are as Good as Their Expensive Counterparts
This story was originally published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
Mica Ricketts is a freelance beauty editor, copywriter and regular contributor toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK. She also writes for titles including Marie Claire Refinery 29 and Cosmopolitan, and previously worked atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK as Beauty Editor. With experience in both editorial and content management, she also works with beauty brands and small businesses on brand messaging and content strategy. As a busy mum of two, she is passionate about finding efficacious beauty products that can disguise all signs of tiredness with minimal effort.